Reputation Management for Doctors: The Office Environment

Photo Credit: accenthealthmedia.com

You don't have to wait out there. They do.

The waiting room is a hiding in plain site factor that needs to considered. The "Office Environment" is a growing area of focus for healthcare giants and private practices alike. Kaiser Permanente for example is putting both thought and money behind this issue. A well reviewed doctors office is about more than comfy chairs and new magazines. According to a HealthGrades survey it includes cleanliness, lighting, comfort and temperature. Creating a better waiting room environment may be easier than you realize. Here are a few suggestions.

• Fill the area with natural light or use LED lights that closely match the sun's spectrum.
• Update the wall coverings and flooring. A variety of easy-to-sanitize textiles and materials are available.
• Update the artwork on your walls and add non-allergenic plants throughout the office.
• Organize chairs and end tables into pods. This will give patients a greater sense of privacy.

Don't get us wrong, you can't rip a few pages out of style magazines and interior decorate your way to sterling online doctor reviews. It is simply one factor among many. You have to monitor patient reviews on the various doctor rating sites. You should hire an online marketing consulting firm to monitor and help mitigate any harmful reviews. And as always you must maintain a positive bedside manner, return calls promptly and make an effort to reduce wait times.

But, a good couch isn't just psychiatrist business, it's doctor business too. Improve your office environment and watch the reviews trend up!